Korean alcoholic beverages, known as 'chungju' in Korean, encompass a wide variety of traditional drinks made primarily from rice, fruits, flowers, and herbs. These beverages have been part of Korean culture for centuries and include various types with different alcohol content and production methods.
History
The tradition of Korean alcoholic beverages dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (3rd-7th century). The northernmost kingdom, Goguryeo, had well-developed traditions of fermented foods and drinks. The middle kingdom, Baekje, introduced alcoholic beverages to Japan through a brewer named Inbon. The southernmost kingdom, Silla, though less developed in brewing techniques, eventually unified the peninsula. The term 'sul' (alcohol) is believed to have originated from combining 'su' (water) and 'bul' (fire), referring to the 'fiery water' produced through boiling.
Types and styles
Korean alcoholic beverages can be categorized into six main types: yakju (purified rice wine), distilled liquor, takju (unfiltered rice wine), fruit wines, flower wines, and medicinal wines. Yakju includes beopju and baekhaju, made from sticky rice. Distilled liquor includes soju (typically 17-20% alcohol), gwangju (made from sorghum), and munbeju (40% alcohol, made from millet, sorghum, wheat, rice, and nuruk). Takju includes makgeolli, a milky rice wine with 6.5-7% alcohol. Fruit wines are made from various fruits like Korean black raspberry and Chinese quince. Flower wines use ingredients like chrysanthemums and azalea petals. Medicinal wines combine alcohol with medicinal herbs, ginseng, and other ingredients.
How it is served
Makgeolli is traditionally served in metal or wooden bowls, with individual cups filled using a ladle. Since it's unfiltered, it's usually mixed before consumption. Baekseju, a popular medicinal wine, is served in bamboo-shaped bottles. These beverages are often enjoyed with food and are used in traditional settings. Some Korean cocktails that use these traditional ingredients include Swindler Sour, The Stone-cold Latte, and Le Pinale.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Корейские алкогольные напитки, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Kinds of Korean alcoholic beverages
- Soju (3 cocktails)